Sunday 10th August 2014

We planned an early start but the upper winds looked very light. John was first away at noon, towing to the rotor cloud in the lee of the Old Man Range. The wave worked well till about 10,000' where the wind dropped to near zero. Brian and Phil towed to the translator where they hung in for an hour until the wind picked-up. Dave and Doug (in JW) towed to the Old Man and we all trundled off north in scrappy wave to the St Bathans Range and back.

Hawkdun Range

John tip-toed further, down the Waikaia Wave in the lee of the Garvies. The heavy overcast made the weak wave hard to see, plus it was damn cold at 13,000'. Meanwhile the clubroom fire was lit and and stoked by Phil so we landed around 4 to thaw out. Thanks to Garry for the excellent tows.

Garvie Range

Sunday looks like the Dunstans will be waving nicely....

... and I am about. Mt Cook anyone?

Can we organise some aerotows now?

Some scary pics from the UK midair

The gallery makes for some sombre visuals. In particular when the two gliders are head to head, one of them must have seen what was to happen. Open the slideshow to see the gallery.

http://www.mkweb.co.uk/News/GALLERY-Milton-Keynes-glider-pilot-Andrew-Preston-jumps-for-his-life-after-mid-air-crash-20140805200000.htm

Who fancies joining me at the regionals this year? I am glad I got the chutes repacked!

Thermals! 3rd August 2014

A cold front went through overnight, dusting snow on the tops. We had no sun AM but skies cleared noon and kicked off some weak thermals to 4000'. Phil, John and Roland flew their singles. Doug flew Roy, Grant Kitto and a pax in JW. Pete, Phil and John drove the winch.
There was a nice convergence over Little Valley but it was a bit of a stretch off the winch. SW wave lingered well to the south.